Queen Elizabeth appoints female lawyer as Britain’s top judge

London, July 21 (IANS) British Queen Elizabeth on Friday approved the appointment of the first-ever female head of the UK’s highest court.

Eminent law lord, Baroness Hale, will become President of Britain’s Supreme Court following the retirement in September of the current President, Lord Neuberger, Xinhua news agency reported.

Lady Hale, 72, was first appointed as a top appeal judge in 2004 and a Justice of the Supreme Court when the court was established in 2009.

She has served as deputy President of the apex court since 2013. The baroness, a legal expert in family law, described her new role as a “great honour and a challenge”.

Lord Neuberger said her appointment was “a fitting pinnacle to a truly ground-breaking career”.

During her time as deputy President, Lady Hale had ruled on many high-profile cases, including the government’s Brexit appeal. She will be officially sworn in as President on October 2, along with three new justices, including a second female judge, Lady Justice Black.

Lady Hale began her legal career teaching law at the University of Manchester, becoming Professor of Law in 1986.